Caltrans VMT Program: Environmental Impact Assessment and Mitigation
This content discusses the Caltrans VMT Program's focus on assessing and mitigating environmental impacts of transportation, in alignment with California's goals of reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transportation systems. Key updates, concepts, status, and challenges are outlined, along with available resources for VMT reduction strategies.
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Presentation Transcript
Caltrans VMT Program Eric Sundquist Deputy Director for Sustainability CalCOG Summer School July 16, 2024
Motivation: Environmental effects of traffic Transportation analyses under the California Environmental Quality Act typically study changes in automobile delay. New methodologies under the California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] are needed for evaluating transportation impacts that are better able to promote the state s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic-related air pollution, promoting the development of a multimodal transportation system, and providing clean, efficient access to destinations. -- SB 743 (2013)
Timeline 2013: SB 743 amends CEQA 2018: OPR rule and technical advisory issued 2020: Initial Caltrans guidance issued Legacy projects identified Methodology for calculating VMT provided 2021: Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI) issued 2022: Additional Caltrans guidance issued Mitigation options detailed Review process in planning phase and internal review for SOCs issued 2024: Updates and extensions under development Refresh of original guidance to be issued VMT included in the Caltrans System Investment Strategy (CSIS)
Status Many projects screened per TAC 5.1.1 or found to have no significant impact Interchange reconfigurations Lane swaps Operational changes Truck-only facilities A few projects rescoped GP to truck-only Several substantial mitigation plans TDM Transit Housing Active transportation
Some issues Modeling and elasticities Interchanges VMT in rural areas Duration of mitigation Mitigation banks Housing But-for test
Resources and updates VMT reduction branch https://dot.ca.gov/programs/esta/sb-743
